The
Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and Los Angeles-based Ideas
Exchange Zócalo Public Square are partnering to launch “What It Means to Be
American,” a collaborative three-year initiative aimed at engaging leading
thinkers, public figures and Americans from all walks of life to explore how
the United States became the nation it is today. The kick-off event Jan. 14
will feature former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Anna Maria
Chávez, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, at the Heard Museum, a Smithsonian
Affiliate in Phoenix. Music icon Eddie Van Halen will headline the next event
at the National Museum of American History in February.

The
initiative will foster a national conversation through a series of free public
events across the U.S. The first event, “The Women of the West,” features
native Arizonans—O’Connor and Chávez—discussing what it means to be a Western
woman and what particular opportunities the region has offered women. A Q&A
session will follow the moderated discussion, allowing audience members to
further engage with one another and the speakers to continue the conversation.

Central
to this project is a new website whatitmeanstobeamerican.org, featuring
original articles by a mix of Smithsonian curators, scholars and Americans from
different backgrounds, perspectives and places. The website will also feature
an interactive component, asking questions such as, “Where would you take
George Washington to help him understand America today?” Readers will be
prompted to submit written responses and upload photos. The site will also host
event-related content, publishing photographs as well as video and audio
recordings of each program, and will engage audiences through social media
channels.

We're 2.5 million strong—more than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. Since 1912, we’ve built girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.